Taiwan’s Military Gets a Boost Amid China’s Show‑down
On Tuesday, President Tsai Ing‑wen told a cheering crowd of air‑force officers that her country’s combat chops are now a lot sharper. She’s convinced that the repeated “scrums” against China’s navy‑and‑air drills have turned the nerve centre up a notch.
Why the buzz is here
- It all kicked off after U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi paid a visit to Taipei last month.
- China responded by launching a full‑scale “war‑game” right around Taiwan’s waters.
- Since then, we’ve seen a string of high‑profile drills from the mainland.
Tsai’s message at Hualien Air Base
While standing at the east‑coast Hualien base—a spot literally carved out of a mountain and home to F‑16s—Tsai made a few take‑home points:
- “The Tian‑tzu Strait is still hot. Threats haven’t vanished.”
- “We’ve kept our cool and blocked every intrusion.”
- “After a marathon of readiness missions, our forces have sharpened to a high‑grade edge.”
She also bragged that she’s totally proud of the armed forces.
More drills on the agenda
From Wednesday onward, the island will host two‑day drills up near Hengchun at the southern tip. They’ll feature:
- Apache attack helicopters,
- Ching‑Kuo indigenous fighters,
- Artillery,
- …and drones striding the sky.
Who does who?
While Taiwan boasts a well‑equipped army, China’s army is the big‑guy on the block. However, President Tsai has been busy turning Taiwan into a modernised power, bumping up defence spending every step of the way.
National Day 2024 Action Plan
October 10 will keep defence in the spotlight. The theme is “You and Me Join Together to Protect the Land and Defend the Country.” Tsai will rally troops in a parade and drop the keynote that ties it all together.
What does Taiwan stand for?
In simple terms, the democratically‑elected government believes that the People’s Republic of China can’t dictate Taiwan’s future because it never ruled the island. Taiwan’s destiny is in the hands of its people—no “foreign” fists are allowed, but China keeps the remote option of force in its back pocket.
